L
REVIEW OF THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE APPLICATION OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY
TO HIGHWAY AND RAILWAY DESIGN IN AUSTRALIA, TOGETHER WITH THE
TREND OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
by W. B. R. Smith
HIGHWAY, RAILWAY AND TRANSPORT AUTHORITIES IN AUSTRALIA
Highway Authorities
The Australian and the State Governments each have authorities
responsible for the location, design, construction, maintenance
and operation of highway facilities. There is a National Body
representative of these authorities, known as the National Asso-
ciation of Australian State Road Authorities (NAASRA) of which
the constituent bodies are:
New South Wales: Department of Main Roads
Victoria: Country Roads Board
Queensland: Main Roads Department
South Australia: Highways Department
Western Australia: Main Roads Department
Tasmania: Public Works Department
Territories Controlled
by the Australian Go-
vernment: Department of Housing and Construction
Railway Authorities
The Australian and the State Governments each have authorities
responsible for the location, design, construction, maintenance
and operation of railway facilities. There have been recent chan-
ges in areas of responsibility for such facilities which have re-
sulted in the transfer of some state responsibilities to the Na-
tional Government. Further such changes are possible. It is be-
lieved by this reporter that usage of photogrammetric methods by
railway authorities in Australia is not as advanced as such usage
by highway authorities. Significant usage of photogrammetric sur-
vey methods has been made within the past decade or so on railway
projects which have been initiated and undertaken by private mi-
ning companies (notably in Western Australia and in Queensland)
associated with the transportation of mineral ores - predominant-
ly iron ores in Western Australia, but also nickel ores in Queens-
land - to coastal ports from inland sites of occurrence. On such
projects, both location and design have been assisted by photo-
grammetric survey methods and relevant services have been provi-
ded by private photogrammetric practitioners established within
